The Judge Perez Bridge shut down for repairs is a familiar inconvenience for residents in Plaquemines Parish.

Traffic has been redirected to the Belle Chasse Tunnel, which isn't much better.

"The tunnel is terrible, because it leaks all the time, and a new bridge needs to be built," said Belle Chasse resident Earl Boswell.

He and dozens of Plaquemines residents got the first look at plans for a new bridge in the Parish that will replace both the bridge and tunnel.

The Regional Planning Commission held the public meeting at the Belle Chasse Auditorium, not far from the bridge that's shut down for a week undergoing repairs.

The Belle Chasse tunnel is accommodating drivers with one lane in each direction.

Parish President Billy Nungesser says the aging infrastructure is a safety concern.

"I just think we need to be very aggressive to come up with a solution because of the condition of the tunnel. No one wants to give me in writing that that tunnel is safe," Nungesser said. "I dont want to scare people, but go in that tunnel and see if you feel safe."

Plaquemines residents were presented with three plans to replace the existing bridge and tunnel.

The first is a 100-foot fixed bridge, the least likely and most expensive of the proposals, Parish leaders say.

Also up for consideration, either a 70-foot movable bridge, or a 60-foot one.

Nungesser has stated publicly he favors the 60-foot bridge. He believes it would be the quickest and most cost-effective solution, causing the least disruption to homes and businesses.

Nungesser says he would even support a toll dedicated to pay for a new bridge just to get the project off the ground. That plan would need wide public support to move forward.

State Sen. David Hetimeier says the project is further along than it's ever been. The Department of Transportation has already offered support.

"We have commitments from the secretary (sherri lebas) for survey money. Starting to trickle some dollars in," Heitmeier said.

A feasibility study for the bridge is already complete. An an environmental study is underway. Still, it's going to take local state and federal funds for the project to move forward.

"Anywhere from $170 to $200 million depending on which design we go with," Heitmeier said.

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